Exhibit 32.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection  with Amendment No. 1 to the Quarterly  Report of Center  Bancorp,
Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Report"),  I, John J. Davis,
President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Company,  certify,  pursuant to 18
U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

         1.       The Report fully complies with the  requirements of Section 13
                  (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         2.       The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in
                  all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of
                  the  Company as of the dates  presented  and the  consolidated
                  result of operations of the Company for the periods presented.


Dated: November 17, 2003



                                        /s/ John J. Davis
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        John J. Davis
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the  electronic  version of this written  statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Center  Bancorp,  Inc. and will be
retained by Center  Bancorp,  Inc. and furnished to the  Securities and exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.



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